School

Doncaster School for the Deaf - An education that is right for your child.

Doncaster School for the Deaf was founded in 1829, and is one of the oldest deaf schools in the UK. We are proud of our long history and achievements.

We provide a pupil-centered approach to education from the earliest years up to the age of 19. All pupils have an Education and Health Care Plan. Although we are based in Doncaster, we are a national resource and pupils come to us via local authorities from all over the UK. We offer a safe and nurturing environment in which children can learn and communicate effectively to achieve their goals.

Curriculum

We offer a broad and balanced curriculum which is accessible to all our pupils and provides smooth progression and continuity through all Key Stages. We seek to provide the most appropriate curriculum for every pupil, based on thorough assessment of their needs.

The curriculum aims to give a good balance between developing academic skills and supporting pupils’ personal and social development.

All subjects of the National Curriculum are taught.*

English

Mathematics

Science

Religious Education

Humanities

ICT

Personal Social Development

Design Technology

Art

PE and Swimming

Small class sizes means we can give individual attention to pupils. Progression and development is monitored closely and tracked to make sure pupils reach their full potential in all areas of school life.

Deaf Studies

‘..the introduction of deaf studies and accreditation in BSL is improving their (pupils) life chances.‘ (Ofsted 2012)

The Deaf Studies curriculum was launched in 2009 by Frank Barnes School, London. The curriculum has five core units.

Deaf Identity

Deaf History

Communication

Communication Technology

Deaf Community & Culture

Deaf studies is hugely beneficial and timetabled for all Primary and Secondary pupils.

This curriculum gives deaf children the opportunity to develop their sense of identity and belonging, knowledge of deaf culture and awareness of the wide range of communication modes. Deaf studies helps children to have a better understanding of the differences between hearing and deaf cultures. Pupils can share experiences of what it is like to be in the hearing environment and how challenging it can be. Pupils gain a knowledge about deaf-led organisations and those that can support deaf people.

British Sign Language

British Sign Language (BSL) qualifications are designed to develop an ability to communicate with deaf people.

Pupils are encouraged to develop a range of linguistic features including clear hand shapes, facial expression, placement and fluent finger-spelling. They develop social language skills from basic use of eye contact and turn-taking through to storytelling and conversational skill.

All pupils are encouraged to improve their signing skills and achieve BSL qualifications. They are given the opportunity to develop BSL skills to Level 2 and beyond, whatever their preferred language.

Most pupils take part in drama lessons and are actively encouraged to develop their performance skills. The school regularly puts on dramatic performance for parents and the wider community. Pupils are also given the opportunity to attend signed performances at various theatres.

As part of a school ethos to prepare pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life, a well-planned programme of sex education is provided to include the processes of reproduction and the nature of sexuality and relationships, with input from the school nurse and outside agencies.

We believe Sex and Relationship Education (SRE) is an essential part of the curriculum if young people are to make responsible and well-informed decisions about their lives. SRE is integrated into the Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship Education programme, as well as being a topic in the Life Processes and Living Things unit of the Science curriculum.

It is our belief that SRE is important for a pupil’s development. However, should they wish, parents can withdraw their children from all or part of SRE, except for that which is required by the Science curriculum.

Religious Education is taught to all pupils, as an academic subject and as part of the School's SMSC programme. While teaching broadly centres on Christianity, pupils also learn about other major world religions and consider non-religious views as well.

Through Key Stages 1, 2 and 3, we follow the Agreed Syllabus for the Doncaster area. At Key Stage 4, all pupils are entered for a short course in GCSE RE and have the opportunity to continue their study in the Sixth Form.

We have established links with the local Imam and visits include the nearby mosque and Doncaster Minster.

Collective Workshop

Pupils participate in regular acts of collective worship in weekly assemblies and special assemblies at the Chapel in the school building. We have special acts of worship officiated by the Chaplain for the Deaf from the local Anglican Diocese.

Parents and the wider community are invited to join us for celebratory worship at key Christian festivals.

The School is non-denominational. Our collective worship and school assemblies are important parts of our school week. However, we respect the rights of families to withdraw children from collective worship and are happy to discuss this matter with parents and carers.

‘Talent in sport has resulted in pupils playing sport at county level or, for example, following a course in equine care.‘ (Ofsted 2012)

Physical Education (PE) is a much valued component of the overall learning experience provided for our pupils. The fostering of a healthy competitive spirit between peers, the opportunity to exert oneself pursuing a wide range of physical activities and the positive impact pursuing such activities has upon overall pupil behaviour is recognised by the School as vitally important.

The school also believes PE contributes to a pupil’s physical and emotional development and health in a safe and supportive environment. The PE curriculum emphasises pupils’ increasing self-confidence and enjoyment through an ability to manage themselves successfully in a variety of situations.

We recognise a positive sense of identity is critical for achievement and success throughout pupils' lives and devise different PE provision to allow each pupil to get a positive experience and staff/peer feedback from their efforts.

Through sports events, pupils are exposed to both deaf and hearing cultures and communities. The School participates in local and national sports events with hearing and deaf competitors. The School is an active member of the wider deaf community and is represented at inter-school events.

Swimming

Our pupils take part in swimming lessons as part of their Physical Education activities.

The School follows The National Plan for Teaching Swimming (NPTS) which is the national syllabus produced by the Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) to assist and support the delivery of swimming lessons. The syllabus provides more opportunity and variety for swimmers, as well as providing a smooth, progressive structure to take them through the 10 stages of the plan with the following potential outcomes:

Competence in the water

Confidence in the water

‘Safe’ swimming

Enjoyment in the water

Increased likelihood of lifelong participation

Increased likelihood of leading a healthy lifestyle

Pupils then follow The Rookie Lifeguard Programme which is the junior award scheme of the Royal Lifesaving Society UK (RLSS UK). Rookie Lifeguard gives pupils the opportunity to explore water safety and alternative safe aquatic play. The skills taught prepare Rookies to take better care of themselves, their family and friends, and give them the information they need to promote water safety in their day-to-day activities. The Rookie awards contain survival, rescue and sport skills as well as life support and water safety elements.

Pupils also take part in a fun swim as a reward for their efforts throughout the year. These are often held at the end of term at the local leisure centre, giving pupils a chance to relax and socialise with their peers.